The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-06-09
Death OF WILLIAM A. WHEELER
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER AS A PUB
Liz SERVANT.

SKETCH OF HIS CAREER AS A PUB
Liz SERVANT.
His Congregational Services i'm Behalf Of
His Country.
Ex-Vice-President Wheeler died at his
ing, June 4, at 10 O'Clock. He passed peace :
fully away, without sign Of reco gnitlon of
those about him.
Ex,Vice- President William Almon Wheeler
was born on tho 30th of June, 1919 In the
town of Malone, Franklin county, N, Y,
which had ever since been his home. He
received common school and academic edu-
cation in his native town, and afterward
entered the University of Vermont, in the
class which graduated in 1912. He was ad>
mitted to the bar in 1915, and rose rapidly in
his profession, acquiring quite an extensive
practice. He had previously been active in
matters affecting the welfare Of the COM
munity, and had served as town clelk and as
school commissioner and school inspec-
WI VI tne Couuty' HIS pohl'Sh ''Ae
began before the organization of the Free
Soil party, and while he regarded himself as
member of 70 political party. His first
public Office was that of district attorney Of
Franklin county, to which he was elected by
the Democratic party soon after the adoption
Of the state constitution OF 1916. He held
this Office until 1859, when lie declined a re.
nomination, AMI in that year became the
candidate of the Wing party for the State
Assembly, and was elected, being reelected
in the following year. He subsequently re-
linquished the law to become cashier in a
bank at Malone, position be retained until
1856. He was interested in the construction
of ths old Northern railroad, afterward
merged into the Ogdensburg and Like Clam
pain road He became truste Of the second
mortgage bonds in 1854 and, as president of
the board of trustee for eleven consecutive
years, he was virtual manager of the road
Mr.. Wheeler was very active in tho forma-
ton and success of the Republican party,
and was
Elected to the State senate
as a Republican in 1853 and 1859, of which
body in the latter year he was president pro
tempore. His distinguished services in the
Senate were recognized by his party, and, in
1860, he was nominated and elected to the 81 h
Congress At the close of the term be re
turned to private life, and an iate! regnum OF
four years followed in his public career In
April 1867, Mr. Wheeler was elected mem
Der Of the state constitutional convention,
and when that body assembled, he was
chosen to preside over its deliberations,
which of course removed him from taking
part in the debates On the floor In the
autumn after the adjournment of the con-
vention he was nominated for Congress in
the 7th New York district, aid was
elected to the 41st Congress- tax.
ing his seat March 4, 1863
When the newly elected speaker,
Mr. Blaine, announced the committees, Mr..
Wheeler's name appeared as chairman OF
the committee on the Pacific railroad. He
was also a member of the committee, on
commerce, appropriations and southern af-
fairs. He held the same positions i'll the en-.
suing congress, to which he was elected with
little opposition in the fall of 1870. He was
elected to the 43d and 44th congresses,
thus having eight years of continuous servic,
from March 4. 1869 to March 3, 1871 In the
political complications which arose in Lou>
isiana during the 43l congress he took con-
spicuous part being chairman of the special
nf ba e.;
and in 1875 he visited New Orleans and pre-
pared an adjustment for the difficulties of
the state which became known as the
''Wheeler Compromised.
During his congressional career Mr.. Wheeler
made few speeches, and the influence he ex :
erted was almost exclusively in the cons
mittees with which he was connected. His
votes were mostly party votes, hut many of
his measures were non-partisan, and it was
due to this fact that he was able on more
than one occasion to carry bill through q
house in which his party was in the minority
Added to this he had great personal in.
fluence, and enjoyed to the greatest degree
the confidence and esteem of his fellow-mem>
bers, and whenever he arose to speak he
always commanded the most respectful
attention. At the national Republican coa-
vention in Cincinnati, O.. June 6, 1876. after
the nomination of Mr.. Hayes, Mr.. Wheeler
was nominated for the vice presidency, and
in letter on the 21st of July he accepted the
nomination.
His election to that Office is matter of
history. The commencement of 1877 found
the country in state Of excitement over the
national election, and, during that time,
when party spirit ran higher than it ever did
before in the United States not the slightest
breath of suspicion was ever connected with
Mr.. Wheelers name He faithfully dis
charged the duties of the office. to
the end Of his term in March, 1881.
Since thai time the only public office
he has held was in 1882, when Pres dent Ar
thur appointed him a member of the tariff
commission, Mr.. Wheeler later withdrew
from any active participation in politics or
public affairs, though his interest in them
remained undated and sought the comforts
of the ass ociation of his friends and a quiet
life. He seemed to entirely disappear from
the public view, his name very rarely
appearing in the papers in lato
years. He possessed the faculty Of, .
fine discrimination both in private and pub
affairs and among wide circle OF friends
and acquaintance he was respected by all,
irrespective of party. The los, Of his wife
was terrible blow to him, and, having in
previous years lost two brothers and two
sisters, his bereavements naturally had their
effect upon them. His life at Malone was
always marked by noble deeds OF kindness
and benevolence and good work in public
enterprises looking toward the welfare OF
the community and the people.
Mr. HAYES SORROW.
The following telegram has been received
| from ex-President Hayes: